Oh My Deer

If you've ever had your garden marauded by deer you may not believe it when I tell you that they are really finicky diners. But still, all that fresh, tender vegetation in your garden is a very big temptation for them.
If you live an area that is known for its deer population, you may want to change those plants that deer find delicious, to ones that deer find unappetizing, which will send these marauding visitors somewhere else for there snacks.

Consider filling your garden with less tasteful plants like boxwood, allium, Japanese maple and garden rue, these are beautiful when grouped together and very seldom damaged by deer.

Flowers are often much like candy to wildlife. But with these beautiful and colorful blooms you can fill your garden with cheer, while keeping the deer at bay. Consider options like marigolds, dahlias, daffodils and snapdragons, these bulbs create instant beauty in your garden and there bad taste tends to keep the wildlife away. Of course, deer are notorious for eating anything if they are hungry enough, so there are definitely no guarantees with any plant in your garden. However, filling it with plants and bulbs that deer find distasteful will help in keeping those unwanted visitors away.
You also might want to remember that thorny, hairy and those plants with a strong scent tend to be unappetizing to deer. Sun perennials like Aster, catmint, lamb's ears, rosemary, St. Johns wort, sage and thyme are the ones that deer tend to stay clear of when possible. Shade perennials such as Astilbe, columbine, ferns and lily-of-the-valley are other deer deterrent plants. For shrubs and trees that wont be picked over and eaten by deer, you may want to consider planting some bamboo, barberry, butterfly bush, magnolia, sumac, or yucca, or plant some jasmine vines, honeysuckle, morning glory or even potato vine, which are perfectly safe for wildlife but just don't have that appetizing smell or taste they prefer.

Once you change the choice of plants in your garden and find that you are still having trouble with those pesky deer, you may want to consider some other options for protection, such as installing deer fencing around your property. This type of fencing works but its not suitable for all property types, as these fences must be at least 8 foot tall.
Repellents do a good job of preventing deer from browsing your property and gardens. However, it can be very expensive to cover your entire property with these products, so you may only want to use them on areas that you know deer are particularly fond of. An idea you may have thought of and one which is significantly less expensive than changing your garden or installing protective fencing, is simply buying a dog.

Barking dogs have been proven to be outstanding in keeping those wandering deer away. Living near an area where deer are known to habitat is sometimes a wonderful experience. Observing these creatures in there natural habitat can provide us with an amazing opportunity to learn about the wildlife we cohabit this earth with. But when they invade our personal property and destroy our months of hard work it can be more than a little aggravating. So take those extra steps to protect your property from the wildlife that roams your gardens. For these and other interesting ideas on protecting your lawn and garden from